Self contained gas powered surgical apparatus

• US 5,312,023 A
• Filed: 03/01/1993
• Issued: 05/17/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bryan, Graham W., Milliman, Keith L., Sienkiewicz, Henry R., Palmer, Mitchell J., McClure, Richard C., Green, David T., Heaton, Lisa W., Savage, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/024,533
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175, 227/176, 227/180, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00548 Gas cartridges therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2903 transferring rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0804 Counting number of instruments used; Instrument detectors

Abstract

A self contained gas powered endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided for placing lateral lines of surgical fasteners into body tissue. The apparatus includes a frame portion, an elongated portion extending from the frame portion, and an articulating fastener applying assembly associated with a distal end of the elongated portion. The fastener applying assembly includes a base portion, a staple cartridge housing, and an anvil member which has a forming surface thereon against which surgical fasteners are driven as they are ejected from the cartridge housing. A self contained pneumatic system is associated with the frame portion and is actuable to eject the surgical fasteners from the cartridge assembly. A first mechanism is provided for effectuating the rotation of the fastener applying assembly about an axis defined by the body portion, a second mechanism is provided for effectuating the articulation of the fastener applying assembly, and a third mechanism is provided for independently rotating the cartridge housing and anvil member relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the base position to increase the range of operability of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners comprising:

a) a frame portion;

b) a body portion extending from said frame portion and defining a longitudinal axis;

c) a fastener applying assembly associated with a distal end portion of said body portion, said fastener applying assembly including a base portion and fastener applying means;

d) first means for effectuating articulation of said fastener applying assembly between a first position generally in alignment with said longitudinal axis of said body portion and a second position angularly disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis of said body portion;

e) second means for effectuating rotation of said fastener applying assembly about said longitudinal axis of said body portion relative to said frame portion; and

f) third means for effectuating independent rotation of said fastener applying means relative to said base portion of said fastener applying assembly.

2. A surgical apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means for remotely actuating said fastener applying means.

3. A surgical apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said means for remotely actuating said fastener applying means comprises a fluid actuation system associated with said frame portion.

4. A surgical apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said fluid actuation system includes a self contained supply of pressurized gas and a pneumatic actuator mechanism operable by said supply of pressurized gas, said pneumatic actuator mechanism engageable with said fastener applying means.

5. A surgical apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said fluid actuation system further comprises a piston and cylinder means, said piston having a head portion configured and dimensioned for actuation by at least a portion of said supply of pressurized gas.

6. A surgical apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said piston head portion and said cylinder means has a substantially elliptical cross-section.

7. A surgical apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said fastener applying means comprises an anvil and a cartridge assembly, said cartridge assembly including at least one surgical fastener therein, said anvil and cartridge assembly being operable to place said surgical fastener in tissue.

8. A surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners comprising:

a) a frame portion;

b) a body portion extending from said frame portion and defining a first longitudinal axis;

c) a fastener applying assembly associated with a distal end portion of said body portion, said fastener applying assembly including;

i) a base portion defining a second longitudinal axis;

ii) a cartridge assembly mounted to said base portion and having a tissue engaging surface thereon, said cartridge assembly containing at least one surgical fastener therein;

iii) an anvil member having a fastener forming surface thereon, said anvil member mounted adjacent said base portion and adapted for relative movement between an open position wherein said fastener forming surface is spaced from said tissue engaging surface and a closed position wherein said fastener forming surface is in close cooperative alignment with said tissue engaging surface;

d) means associated with said frame portion for causing said anvil member and said cartridge assembly to move between said open and closed positions;

e) means for ejecting said surgical fastener from said cartridge assembly;

f) first means for effectuating articulation of said fastener applying assembly between a first position substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis and a second position substantially angularly disposed with respect to said first longitudinal axis;

g) second means for effectuating rotation of said fastener applying assembly about said first longitudinal axis relative to said frame portion; and

h) third means for effectuating independent rotation of said cartridge assembly and anvil member relative to said second longitudinal axis.

9. A surgical apparatus as in claim 8 further comprising a pneumatic system disposed in said frame portion and including a self contained supply of pressurized gas and a pneumatic actuator mechanism associated with said gas supply, said pneumatic actuator mechanism operatively connected to said means for ejecting said surgical fastener.

10. A surgical apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said pneumatic actuator mechanism further comprises a piston operatively connected to said means for ejecting said surgical fastener, said piston being configured and dimensioned for reciprocal longitudinal travel through a drive cylinder.

11. A surgical apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said piston includes a head portion, said piston head portion and said cylinder being substantially elliptical in cross-section.

12. A surgical apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said cartridge assembly is removably mounted to said base portion.

13. A surgical apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said cartridge assembly includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed therein for sequential firing by said means for ejecting said surgical fastener.

14. A surgical apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said anvil member is fixed to said base portion and said cartridge assembly is pivotally mounted with respect to said base portion for movement between said open and closed positions.

15. A surgical apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said first means for effectuating articulation of said fastener applying assembly is actuable remotely from said fastener applying assembly.

16. A surgical apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said second means for effectuating rotation of said fastener applying assembly is actuable remotely from said fastener applying assembly.

17. A surgical apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said third means for effectuating independent rotation of said fastener applying means is actuable remotely from said fastener applying assembly.

18. A surgical apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said first means for effectuating articulation of said fastener applying assembly comprises a remotely actuable linkage system engageable with said base portion for articulation of said base portion relative to said first longitudinal axis.

19. A surgical apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said remotely actuable linkage system includes rotary gear means and motion translation means engageable with a linkage whereby rotational motion of said gear means is translated into longitudinal motion of said linkage.

20. A surgical apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said rotary gear means includes at least one set of planetary gears.

21. A surgical apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said base portion is articulatable in a single angular direction relative to said first longitudinal axis.

22. A surgical apparatus as in claim 21 wherein said base portion is articulatable through an angle of between about 0°

and 45°

relative to said first longitudinal axis.

23. A surgical apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said second means for effectuating rotation of said fastener applying assembly includes a rotatable knob engageable with said body portion for concurrent rotation of said body portion and said fastener applying assembly relative to said first longitudinal axis.

24. A surgical apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said third means for effectuating independent rotation of said fastener applying means includes first and second interconnected rotary gear means, said first gear means being disposed within said base portion and said second gear means being disposed proximal to said base portion for remote actuation of said first gear means.

25. A surgical apparatus as in claim 24 wherein at least one of said first and second rotary gear means comprises a set of planetary gears.

26. A surgical apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said means for approximating said anvil member and said cartridge assembly comprises a control system including a cable mechanism associated at least in part with said frame portion.

27. A surgical apparatus for driving surgical staples comprising:

a) a frame portion;

b) a body portion extending longitudinally from said frame portion and defining a first longitudinal axis;

c) a staple applying assembly associated with the distal end portion of said body portion, said staple applying assembly including;

i) a base portion defining a second longitudinal axis;

ii) a replaceable cartridge assembly having a tissue engaging surface thereon, said cartridge assembly being removably mounted to said base portion and configured and dimensioned to contain a plurality of surgical staples therein;

iii) an anvil member having a fastener forming surface thereon, said anvil member mounted relative to said cartridge assembly such that said cartridge assembly is movable from an open position wherein said staple forming surface is spaced from said tissue engaging surface and a closed position wherein said staple forming surface is in close cooperative alignment with said engaging surface of said cartridge assembly;

d) remotely actuable means for sequentially ejecting said surgical staples from said cartridge assembly to form against said staple forming surface of said anvil member;

e) a pneumatic actuator system associated with said frame portion and including a self-contained supply of pressurized gas and a pneumatic actuator mechanism configured to be actuable by a portion of said gas supply, said pneumatic system operatively connected to said means for ejecting said surgical staples;

f) first means for remotely effectuating articulation of said staple applying assembly between a first position substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis and a second position substantially angularly disposed with respect to said first longitudinal axis;

g) second means for remotely effectuating rotation of said staple applying assembly about said first longitudinal axis relative to said frame portion; and

h) third means for independently, remotely effectuating rotation of said replaceable cartridge assembly and said anvil member relative to said second longitudinal axis.

28. A surgical apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said pneumatic actuator mechanism further comprises a piston operatively connected to said means for ejecting said surgical fastener, said piston being configured and dimensioned for longitudinal travel through a drive cylinder.

29. A surgical apparatus as in claim 28 wherein said piston includes a head portion, said piston head portion and said cylinder being substantially elliptical in cross-section.

30. A surgical apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said cartridge assembly is removably mounted to said base portion.

31. A surgical apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said anvil member is fixed to said base portion and said cartridge assembly is pivotally mounted with respect to said base portion for movement between said open and closed positions.

32. A surgical apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said first means for effectuating articulation of said fastener applying assembly comprises a remotely actuable linkage system engageable with said base portion for articulation of said base portion relative to said first longitudinal axis.

33. A surgical apparatus as in claim 32 wherein said remotely actuable linkage system includes rotary gear means and motion translation means engageable with a linkage whereby rotational motion of said gear means is translated into longitudinal motion of said linkage.

34. A surgical apparatus as in claim 33 wherein said rotary gear means includes at least one set of planetary gears.

35. A surgical apparatus as in claim 32 wherein said base portion is articulatable in a single angular direction relative to said first longitudinal axis.

36. A surgical apparatus as in claim 35 wherein said base portion is articulate through an angle of between 0°

and 45°

relative to said first longitudinal axis.

37. A surgical apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said third means for effectuating independent rotation of said fastener applying means includes first and second interconnected rotary gear means, said first gear means being disposed within said base portion and said second gear means being disposed proximal to said base portion for remote actuation of said first gear means.

38. A surgical apparatus as in claim 27 wherein at least one of said first and second rotary gear means comprises a set of planetary gears.

39. A surgical apparatus as in claim 27 further comprising means for approximating said anvil member and said cartridge assembly comprising a control system including a cable mechanism associated at least in part with said frame portion.